Have you got a well stocked spice rack?

[sandrajo]

What spice couldn't you do without? I'm trying out new spices every week, some are very interesting!

[whiffey]

I have 3 spice racks, but mostly I fear they are well past their best. Masses of basil and oregano in bolognaise sauces, onion and garlic salt as table condiments, extra hot chilli powder, and white pepper in curries. Paprika and cayenne pepper are good for livening up Vesta packet paella. Some I can't stand, like ground cumin, best way to ruin a curry. Does cumin work with anything ?

[pastafreak]

You may not like cumin whiffey...but it is essential for many curries along with coriander seed,mustard seed,turmeric....and according to the region...cloves,cinnamon,and other warm spices. The thing to remember is to fry the spices well to release their flavour and aroma....never just throw them into the sauce. They will only taste raw and nasty.

[whiffey]

I forgot ground cloves (laving powder) and cinammon. A modest pinch of each will add a very special touch to a bolognaise, although stand by for vivid dreams at night !

[Goodsoulette]

Is cumin in garam masala? Im pretty sure it is, I couldn't live without that.

Thyme, basil, coriander, rosemary and mint, I could not live with out.

[pastafreak]

OMG...lol...how do you get vivid dreams from a bolognaise??.....oh-and don't forget nutmeg.

[whiffey]

I do not add nutmeg because I know 100% for certain that it causes vivid dreaming, cinammon and cloves have yet to be definitely implicated so I always think I'll get away with it next time.

Dislike of cumin is obviously a personal thing, but my curries are hardly sophisticated creations with imaginative spices, I just use Pataks Vindaloo sauce and liven it up with chopped naga chillies.

[andrea81]

I cannot live without:

Chilli Powder
Paprika
Garlic Powder
Ground Cumin
Ground Coriander
Turmeric
Garam masala

Thyme
Rosemary
Parsley

and I always keep in the fridge:

Lazy garlic
Lazy Ginger
Lemon grass paste

[Clanad]

Whole Nutmeg nuts (and a handy micro rasp to finely plane the seeds. It's truly amazing the numbers of recipes that are enhanced by less that a quarter teaspoon of this spice. From Pastisto to meat loaf to desserts. No herb collection should be without fresh Rosemary (Italian Basil is a close second)...

[LoftyLottie]

As we are talking herbs and spices and condiments generally, then I simply couldn't live without fresh Basil. I get through loads.

Others I constantly use are: Chilli, oregano, cumin, chinese five spice, rosemary, bay, garlic, black pepper, sesame oil, saffron and bay.

Cannot stand coriander.

[oldgrape]

garlic pepper
salt
pepper

that's all sob sob sob

[crisgal]

I'm surprised no one has fennel seeds in their collection. Sprinkle a few on your pork chops before cooking - amazing!

[Lisa1983]

I always make sure i never run out of any of these

Basil
Bay Leaf
Nutmeg
Onion flakes
Paprika
Clove
Coriander
Cayenne Pepper
Cinnamon
Garlic
Ginger
Cumin
Chili powder (hot, medium)
Lemon Grass
Sage
Szechwan Pepper
Parsley
Pepper
Poppy Seed
Rosemary

[Gromit]

I have just replenished mine with fresh stuff I bought for next to nothing on a Turkish market from this stall.

Mainly use:

Dried Chilli
Cumin
Nutmeg
Paptrika
Garam Masala
Ground Coriander
Turmeric

I always use fresh Ginger, Garlic, Red birdseye chillis

Spices should be renewed at least yearly. They fade and lose their flavour otherwise.

[Jugglering]

OK,,,, my spice/herb rack contains the following:-

Smoked paprika
Chilli flakes
Chilli powder
Garam masala
Ground coriander
Coriander seed
Ground cumin
Cumin seed
Turmeric
Cinnamon
Ground fenugreek
Fenugreek seeds
Fennel seeds
Ground mustard powder
Ground cardoman
Cardoman seeds
Black onion seeds
Black mustard seeds
White mustard seeds
Black pepper seeds
5 peppers (black, white, pink, green & allspice)
Cayenne
Tamarind
Lemon Grass
Sage
Szechwan Pepper
Poppy seeds
Basil
Parsley
Marjoram
Oregano
Thyme
Fine Herbs
Chives
Dill
Mixed Herbs
Bay leaves
Curry leaves
Herbs de Provence
Kaffir Lime leaves

Oh dear,,,, no wonder I have little room left !

[frankofile]

Gromit is right. Mediterranean markets are the place to buy herbs and spices. Whenever my kids go on holiday they now know to bring me back bags of saffron etc, which is sooo expensive here. So far the quality has been fine. and it's much better than a plastic replica of the tower of Pisa!!!

[Jugglering]

lol... I forgot about the little sachet of saffron I have (which is hidden away in the cupboard)....

[Gromit]

Juggerling,
I'm surprised you do not have room for any ground Nutmeg. Very flavousome and versitile. I would recommend ditching the parsley and putting nutmeg in its place on the rack. Most supermarkets now sell fresh Parsley, or even better, fresh Coriander.

[lilv]

Jugglering, your spice list is identical to mine!! Would love a look through your recipe book, bet you've got some good ones in there. My fav is lamb marinaded in green cardamon and fresh coriander (amongst others), slow roatsed in the oven until it melts in the mouth. making me hungry just thinking about it. What I really could never live without though is chillies.

PS get some Thai basil on your list!